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Manchester United and Real Madrid have been placed on alert by an announcement from Lyons striker Karim Benzema that he sees his future outside France at 'one of Europe's top clubs'. The prolific 20-year-old France international, valued at £85m by Lyons president Jean-Michel Aulas, says he wants to discuss his future at the end of the season. Benzema said: 'There are a lot of clubs - Barcelona, Real Madrid, but also Manchester United, AC Milan. They are all clubs you dream about. I like Spain, but Manchester, Milan . . . you progress so much there and I want to be among the world's best'

SOUTH AFRICANS TARGET POMPEY

A consortium of South African and British-based businessmen will make a formal offer to buy Portsmouth within two weeks. Prosport International's Mike Makaab, who describes himself as a 'contact person' for a group including major players in South African gold mining,